Cricket

South Africa's Test captain, Temba Bavuma, has made a timely recovery from an elbow injury and will lead his team in the upcoming two-Test series against Sri Lanka. The Proteas have named a 14-man squad for the series, which also includes the return of Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee to the Test fold.Bavuma's return is a significant boost for South Africa, who are chasing their maiden World Test Championship (WTC) final appearance. The Proteas need to win all four Tests at home - two against Sri Lanka and two against Pakistan that follow - to be assured of a place in the title round. They could still make it, based on results elsewhere, with three wins out of four."We've picked the strongest possible side to ensure we stay competitive and keep our hopes alive for a place in the World Test Championship final," said head coach Shukri Conrad. "It's great to have Temba back leading the side after his recovery. His leadership and skill are invaluable to the team."Jansen and Coetzee have both worked hard during their conditioning programmes and are ready to contribute to the team. The trio of Kagiso Rabada, Dane Paterson, and Wiaan Mulder will complete the pace-bowling options alongside Jansen and Coetzee.Keshav Maharaj and Senuran Muthusamy are the two frontline spinners selected, while Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton, and Kyle Verreynne provide batting depth.The two-Test series begins in Durban on November 27 before the teams move to Gqeberha for the second Test starting December 5.

South Africa's fast-bowling spearhead Lungi Ngidi has been sidelined for an extended period due to a groin injury, ruling him out of the upcoming Test series against Sri Lanka and the all-format tour of Pakistan. The setback is a significant blow to the Proteas, who are set to embark on a crucial home summer.Ngidi's injury was detected during a medical assessment as part of his structured conditioning program. Scans revealed bilateral proximal adductor tendinopathy, a condition that affects the tendons in the groin area. The 26-year-old will now undergo a rehabilitation program and is expected to return to action in January.Meanwhile, South Africa's Test captain Temba Bavuma remains a doubt for the first Test against Sri Lanka, scheduled to begin on November 27 in Durban. Bavuma has been recovering from a left elbow injury sustained during the ODI series against Ireland last month. He will undergo a fitness test on November 18 to determine his availability.If Bavuma is unable to play, Aiden Markram will lead the Proteas. However, Markram's recent form has been underwhelming, with the batter failing to score more than 33 in his last six Test innings. Ryan Rickelton, who played in the Tests against Bangladesh, could retain Bavuma's spot in the batting order.Bavuma's injury is a concern for South Africa, who are aiming to qualify for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Proteas need to win all four home Tests to secure their spot at Lord's, but three wins and other favorable results could also get them there.South Africa's Test schedule for the home summer is as follows:* 1st Test vs. Sri Lanka: November 27-December 1, Durban* 2nd Test vs. Sri Lanka: December 6-10, Centurion* 1st Test vs. Pakistan: December 26-30, Centurion* 2nd Test vs. Pakistan: January 3-7, Johannesburg* 3rd Test vs. Pakistan: January 11-15, Rawalpindi

Temba Bavuma's elbow injury has ruled him out of the second Test against Bangladesh, scheduled to commence next Tuesday. Aiden Markram will assume the captaincy in his absence, with the expectation that Bavuma will be available for the upcoming home Tests against Sri Lanka.South Africa's Test coach, Shukri Conrad, confirmed the decision in Dhaka, stating that Bavuma's recovery has not progressed sufficiently for him to participate in the second Test. The rehabilitation program will be adjusted to ensure his readiness for the Sri Lankan series.It remains uncertain whether Bavuma will remain with the squad in Bangladesh or return home to continue his recovery and participate in domestic red-ball cricket. The first-class competition commences next week, and Bavuma's team, the Lions, will play three matches before the first Test against Sri Lanka.Conrad expressed his preference for Bavuma to stay with the squad, acknowledging his valuable role and the fact that it is still his team. However, he understands Bavuma's family responsibilities and will respect his decision.Bavuma sustained the injury earlier this month during an ODI against Ireland, falling awkwardly while completing a run. He retired hurt on 35 and was unable to field. The injury affects the same elbow that Bavuma injured in 2022 during a T20 tour of India, which subsequently ruled him out of South Africa's tour of England later that year.In Bavuma's absence, Matthew Breetzke, who made his debut in the Mirpur Test, could retain his position at No.6. Alternatively, South Africa may opt for an additional allrounder or bowler in their XI. Left-hander Senuran Muthusamy is a potential replacement, offering both batting and left-arm spin bowling capabilities.South Africa currently holds a 1-0 lead in the two-Test series after securing a seven-wicket victory in the first Test.

Temba Bavuma, the South African Test captain, has been ruled out of the first Test against Bangladesh due to a muscle strain in his left triceps. The injury was confirmed after scans revealed the extent of the damage. Aiden Markram will lead the Proteas in Bavuma's absence for the first Test, which begins in Dhaka on October 21.Bavuma's injury is a significant blow to South Africa's hopes of a successful tour of Bangladesh. The 32-year-old has been in good form in recent months, scoring a century in the second Test against England at Lord's in August.With Bavuma out, Markram will take over the captaincy for the first time in a Test match. The 28-year-old has captained South Africa in limited-overs cricket, but this will be his first experience leading the team in the longest format.Markram will be supported by a strong leadership group, including vice-captain Keshav Maharaj and senior players Kagiso Rabada and Dean Elgar.In addition to Bavuma's injury, South Africa have also been dealt another blow with the news that Nandre Burger has been ruled out of the series with a lumbar stress reaction. Burger was expected to play a key role in the bowling attack, but his absence will force the Proteas to reshuffle their plans.Dewald Brevis and Lungi Ngidi have been added to the squad as replacements for Bavuma and Burger. Brevis is a highly-rated young batsman who has yet to make his Test debut, while Ngidi is an experienced fast bowler who has played 17 Tests for South Africa.South Africa will be hoping to bounce back from their disappointing performance in the ODI series against Ireland, where they lost 2-1. They will be confident of their chances against Bangladesh, who they have beaten in their last two Test series.

Temba Bavuma's injury woes continue to haunt South Africa as the Proteas captain is now in doubt for the upcoming Test series against Bangladesh. Bavuma was ruled out of the third ODI against Ireland with an elbow injury, raising concerns about his availability for the Test matches starting on October 21.The injury is a recurrence of the same elbow problem that sidelined Bavuma during South Africa's T20 tour of India in 2022. It forced him to miss the subsequent tour of England and has plagued him ever since. Despite making a comeback ahead of the 2022 T20 World Cup, Bavuma has been hampered by a series of injuries, including hamstring niggles and a left hamstring injury sustained during the Boxing Day Test against India last year.Bavuma's absence from the Test series against Bangladesh is a significant blow to South Africa's hopes of qualifying for the World Test Championship (WTC) final. The Proteas have six Tests remaining in the cycle, and they need to win at least five of them to have a chance of reaching the final.In Bavuma's absence, Rassie van der Dussen will lead South Africa in the Test series. T20I captain Aiden Markram has been rested for this series.South Africa are also without allrounder Wiaan Mulder for the white-ball series against Ireland. Mulder has left the tour for personal reasons. The Proteas have already taken a 2-0 lead in the ODI series and will play the third and final match on Monday. The preceding T20I series finished level at 1-1.

South Africa Elects to Bat First in ODI Opener Against IrelandIn the inaugural One-Day International (ODI) match between South Africa and Ireland in Abu Dhabi, Proteas skipper Temba Bavuma opted to bat first. The decision was made after assessing the pitch, which featured additional grass cover and a projected par score of 260-270.Ryan Rickelton and Rassie van der Dussen returned to the South African XI after missing the recent Afghanistan series, which the Proteas lost 2-1. Andy Balbirnie, who was omitted from the T20I squad, made his ODI comeback as an opener alongside Paul Stirling.Ireland handed a maiden ODI cap to legspinner Gavin Hoey, while Stephen Doheny took over wicketkeeping duties. The Irish team also included Curtis Campher, Harry Tector, George Dockrell, Mark Adair, Andy McBrine, Graham Hume, and Craig Young.South Africa's batting lineup featured Rickelton as the wicketkeeper, followed by Tony de Zorzi, Bavuma, van der Dussen, Tristan Stubbs, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Bjorn Fortuin, Lizaad Williams, Lungi Ngidi, and Ottneil Baartman.The match marked the first time the two teams had faced off in an ODI since 2019. South Africa holds a 3-1 advantage in their previous ODI encounters.

South Africa's recent Test series victory against the West Indies has reignited their hopes of reaching the World Test Championship (WTC) final next year. The Proteas' 40-run triumph in Georgetown marked their second win in six Tests during the 2023-25 cycle, propelling them to fifth position in the standings.To maintain their chances of reaching the final, South Africa must secure victories in at least five of their upcoming six matches. This includes two away Tests against Bangladesh in October (yet to be confirmed) and two each against Sri Lanka and Pakistan at home later this year.The second Test against the West Indies proved to be a closely contested battle, with the home side pursuing a target of 263 runs to secure victory. However, South Africa's bowling attack excelled, dismissing the West Indies for 222 runs and sealing the series win."It was very satisfying because winning away from home is never an easy feat, and you should never take it for granted," said South Africa captain Temba Bavuma.South Africa had a full-strength Test side in the Caribbean for the first time since February, when they had to send a second-string team to New Zealand because of the T20 league commitments of most of their players.The rain-affected first match in Trinidad ended in a draw."Our goal was to come to the Caribbean and win the series, and we're happy that we were able to do so. And I think along the way as well, we've played some good cricket," Bavuma said."We were put under pressure, and we were able to have answers in those periods. I think we can obviously get better and improve, but I think for this young group of players, there's a lot of learnings and confidence that we can take from here," he told reporters.South Africa's victory against the West Indies has given them a much-needed boost in their quest for a place in the WTC final. However, they face a challenging road ahead, with tough matches against Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and Pakistan still to come.

South Africa's Test team embarks on a crucial period in their World Test Championship (WTC) campaign, traveling to the Caribbean for a series of four two-match series. Despite a disappointing start to their WTC journey, with only four Tests played and a single victory, the Proteas aim to turn their fortunes around.Captain Temba Bavuma, returning from injury, acknowledges the challenges facing the team, including a lack of consistent game time and player management issues. However, he remains optimistic, emphasizing the need to establish a clear philosophy and blueprint for success.The team's bowling attack has been depleted by the absence of Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, and Gerald Coetzee, leaving Lungi Ngidi, Nandre Burger, and Dane Paterson with the responsibility of leading the charge. The batting lineup also features several inexperienced players, including Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, and David Bedingham.Bavuma, who will bat at No. 4, recognizes the importance of anchoring the lineup and providing impetus. He believes the upcoming series provides an opportunity for younger players to establish themselves on the international stage.The Proteas will face a West Indies Invitational XI in a four-day warm-up match before the first Test begins on August 7. The series is crucial for South Africa's WTC aspirations, as they aim to secure victories and improve their position on the points table.